Image Credit: Getty Images
The 2024 Republican National Convention was filled with conservative elites, everyday Americans, and some celebrities, including Trump-loving musicians.
From the Nashville-based band Sixwire keeping the attendees entertained for all four days in Milwaukee to Kid Rock warming up the crowd before Donald Trump came to the stage with a “fight, fight” rendition of a mashup of his old songs ‘American Bad Ass’ and ‘Cowboy.’
But Donald Fagen, Steely Dan’s sole surviving co-founder, wasn’t happy when his song ‘Reelin’ in the Years’ was played by Sixwire as part of its setlist. He posted a message on Facebook suggesting a different track instead: the anti-Trump ballad ‘Tin Foil Hat.’
The song in question isn’t a Steely Dan tune, but a Todd Rundgren track featuring Fagan ― and it’s very specifically about Trump.
The Republican National Convention house band, Sixwire, is playing a slew of classic rock in Milwaukee—including Steely Dan.
In a response posted to the official Steely Dan site, Donald Fagen suggests the group cover his and Todd Rundgren’s Trump takedown, “Tin Foil Hat.” pic.twitter.com/NV2C54q0pz
— Expanding Dan, a Steely Dan newsletter (@ExpandingDan) July 18, 2024
Here you can see more of the different singers and bands that showed up to the convention to support Trump and artists who have spoken out against him playing their music at his events.
Kid Rock
Kid Rock performed before Trump took the stage on Day 4.
“He became a friend of mine over the last ten years and he’s amazing, everyone loves him,” Trump said during his convention speech.
.@KidRock debuts new version of American Badass at the RNC pic.twitter.com/j89Yt6AGxg
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) July 19, 2024
Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean and his wife Brittany Kerr took a seat next to Trump in the MAGA friends and family box on the final night of the RNC on Thursday. Aldean didn’t perform during the public session of the RNC, but did a private concert later in the evening.
Jason Aldean Performing “Try That In A Small Town” During A Private Concert At RNC pic.twitter.com/n4QVd9T3Fv
— Jayne Zirkle (@JayneZirkle) July 19, 2024
Trump called Aldean the “biggest star in country music” during his acceptance speech. “He’s good,” Trump continued. “I like his wife even better, by the way” the former president said referencing Aldean’s wife, Brittany Kerr.
Lee Greenwood
Lee Greenwood introduced Trump to the RNC on Day 1 and Day 4 and performed on Day 2.
What a grand entrance for Donald Trump at the RNC while Lee Greenwood is playing ‘God Bless the USA’Watch until the end for a fantastic shot of an ‘I’ll be back’ flag in the background as Trump approaches the podium.
Somewhere our ‘President’ is asleep because it’s well past… pic.twitter.com/xExqk6JEtc
— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) July 19, 2024
During his keynote speech on Thursday night, Trump said that Greenwood was “a beautiful man.” Greenwood, who has been a close ally of Trump over the years, sang three times this week at the RNC, twice to introduce Trump.
Brian Kelly
Florida native and country singer-songwriter Brian Kelley appeared on Wednesday to perform ‘American Spirit’ with a gospel choir.
Kelley is known as formerly being in the chart-topping country duo Florida Georgia Line, alongside Georgia native Tyler Hubbard.
Chris Janson
Country singer Chris Janson performed on Monday, joining the Nashville-based band Sixwire. They played his single ‘All American Guy.’
Celebrating the All American Guys with Chris Janson! #FromtheHart pic.twitter.com/Exs3nS8nHJ
— Charles Hart (@youneedahart) July 16, 2024
Tom Petty’s Family
Tom Petty Tom Petty performs during halftime of the Super Bowl XLII football game between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants, in Glendale, ArizSuper Bowl Football, Glendale, USA
The family of the late Tom Petty has condemned the apparent use of the musician’s song “I Won’t Back Down” at Trump’s 2020 campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In a statement released on X, Tom Petty’s daughters Adria and Annakim, widow Dana, and ex-wife Jane Petty wrote that they’d “issued an official cease and desist notice to the Trump campaign.”
“Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind,” the family wrote in their statement.
Elton John
ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME 2023 INDUCTION CEREMONY – 11/03/2023The 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, with rare once-in-a-lifetime performances and collaborations, will be broadcast live coast to coast from Brooklyn on FRIDAY, NOV. 3 (8:00 p.m. EDT) on Disney+. (Disney/Michael J. Le Brecht II)ELTON JOHN
While running for president, Trump used Elton John’s songs “Rocket Man” and “Tiny Dancer” as warm-up music for his campaign rallies. But the iconic singer has made it clear his views are different from Trump’s and he doesn’t want his music involved in American politics.
“I don’t really want my music to be involved in anything to do with an American election campaign. I’m British. I’ve met Donald Trump, he was very nice to me, it’s nothing personal, his political views are his own, mine are very different, I’m not a Republican in a million years,” John told The Guardian in 2016.
Rihanna
Rihanna at the AWGE fashion show during Paris Fashion Week Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 held at Hôtel de Maisons on June 21, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Swan Gallet/WWD via Getty Images)
In 2018, Rihanna discovered her music was being played during one of his rallies via X.
In response to a post on X from The Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker about her music being used, she posted, “Not for much longer…me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies, so thanks for the heads up philip!”
Shortly after Rihanna posted on X in regards to her disapproval, her team sent out a cease-and-desist notice, Rolling Stone reported.
Rolling Stones
Since 2016, the band has sent out multiple statements calling for Trump to “cease all use” of their music, Vulture reported.
But Trump continued using the band’s song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” anyway.
In June 2020, representatives for the group — working with BMI, a performing-rights organization — released a statement saying that if Trump continued to use the band’s music in his campaigning efforts, he may be sued.
Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco
On X, the Panic! At The Disco frontman told Trump’s campaign to stop playing his song “High Hopes,” which played as the president walked on stage at a 2020 rally in Phoenix, Arizona, per USA Today.
“Dear Trump Campaign, Fuck you. You’re not invited. Stop playing my song. No thanks, Brendon Urie, Panic! At The Disco & company,” the musician wrote on X.
Dear Trump Campaign,
Fuck you. You’re not invited. Stop playing my song.
No thanks,Brendon Urie, Panic! At The Disco & company.
— Brendon Urie (@brendonurie) June 24, 2020
Members of George Harrison’s estate
At the same 2016 RNC, The Beatles classic “Here Comes the Sun,” written by George Harrison, was played. Members of his estate posted on X saying that the use of the song was against their wishes.
But they also were sure to get a dig in. “If it had been Beware of Darkness, then we MAY have approved it! #TrumpYourself,” the X post read.
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